Milk-bottle holder



Feb. 10, 1931. F. B. WILLIAMS ET AL MILK BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Aug. 1,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors Feb. 10, 1931. F. B. WILLIAMS ET AL ,993

' MILK BOTTLE HOLD R Filed Aug. 1. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1, v I nvenior-S yr ,'l for/asfflfiiizb czmz zedford /f Ina/.501 iifiedfardAttorn y an: ad

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORREST B. WILLIAMS,JOHN FARRIS LEIDFORD, AND LAWSON H. LEDFORD, OF

SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA MILK-BOTTLE HOLDER This invention relates to adomestic or household appliance which is generally referred to in theart as a milk bottle holder, and has more particular reference to adevice which is constructed for holding a plurality of milk bottlesthrough the medium of novel clamp equipped cabinet means.

Briefly stated, we have evolved and produced a simplified cabinet whichis intended to suspend two or more full bottles of milk and toaccommodate two or more empty milk bottles, the arrangement being suchas to practicallylock the full bottles in placeuntil the empty bottlesare inserted in the clamping means, whereby to permit a unique exchangeof empty bottles for full bottles, to avoid stealing and to promote thehabit of returning the empty bottles for daily collection, by

the delivery man. so In carrying the invention into efiect, w

have evolved and produced a novel structural arrangement, which ischaracterized by a simple cabinet including distinguishable clampingmeans, such as renders the operation unique, dependable and efficient,thereby providing a complete structure which is a worthy contribution tothe art and susceptible of fulfilling the requirements of a structure ofthis class, in a highly satisfactory manner.

Other features and advantages will become more readilyapparent from thefollowing description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of thestructure showing the clamping means in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View showing the clamping meansand the methods of cooperation of the bottle.

Fig. 5 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view through the lowercompartment.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal central section thru the clamping means seen inFig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be observed that 7 designates generallythe cabinet whlch 59 is of appropriate proportion and configura- In thecabinet portion 9, as seen in Fig. 3,

are clamping devices, generally designated by the reference characters14, and these are of duplicate construction. Hence, a description of onewill suffice for both. In this connection, attention isinvited now toFig. 4,

wherein it will be observed that the bottom hole 15 facilitates entranceof the neck of the full bottle 11, whereas the top hole 16 facilitatesinsertion of the empty bottle shown in dotted lines at 17.

The clamp is principally made up of a pair of half sections 18 and 19respectively, which are hingedly connected together as at 20 in Fig. 6.These half sections are of general conical form and are fashioned attheir centers to form or provide upper and lower shoulders 21 and 22with which the beads on the necks of the bottles 11 and 17 are adaptedto be successively engaged. Obviously, when the full bottle 11 isremoved, the empty bottle 17 is snapped into place. In fact, it isinsertion of the empty bottle which permits release of the full bottle.

In this connection, we provide an element 23 which includes a guide stem24 and a partition disk-like head 25, this being located between theshoulders 21 and 22 as is observed in Fig. 4. On one side, thehalf-section 18 is formed with a lip or flange as at 26 and the oppositehalf section carries a cooperating anti-friction roller 27.

Surrounding the half sections is a coiled spring 28 having its endsconnected with a yoke, theU-shaped portion 29 of which straddles theflanges 26 and 27. In fact, this rr d1) U-shaped portion is located innotches formed in a pair of complemental retaining and releasing cams 30and 31 re spectively. These cams are pivotally mounted in place as at32, and have their curved edges projecting into the interior of thehollow encasing clamps. Obviously, the cam edges cooperate with theaforesaid shoulders 21 and 2-2, and are maintained in looking positionunder the action of the coiled spring and the connecting yoke.

They are slidably mounted between the flange 26 and roller 27 tofacilitate freedom of motion.

Considering now the operation of the device, it is obvious that when themilk man calls, he simply inserts the full bottle through the opening 15(see Fig. 4), and forces it up into the hollow casing-like clamp. Thisacts on the cam 31, forcing it outwardly and permitting the bead of thebottle to be literally anchored in place on the complemental sh0ulder22. This action of course, forces the device 23 upwardly.

When it is desired to remove the full bottle, the housewife takes anempty bottle 17, forces it down through the opening 16 against the cam30, thus forcing both cams 30 and 31 outwardly, allowing the bottle 17to enter and permitting the bottle 11 to be released. The bottles areprevented from coming together by the intervening partition disk 25.Consequently, there is little or no likelihood of breakage by contactbetween the bottles. Moreover the empty bottle is guided in place by thestem 24. The spring means permits effectlve and smooth releasing andentering action of the bottles.

It is thought that by considering the description in connection with thedrawings, a clear understanding of the construction, method ofoperation, and features and advantages of the contrivance, will be had.Therefore, a more lengthy description is believed to be unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details, comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice if desired.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new is 1.. In amilk bottle holder of the class de scribed, a cabinet, a clamp in saidcabinet comprising a hollow casing-like structuire composed of a pair ofpivotally connected half sections, said half sections being providedwith vertically spaced bottle clamping shoulders, and individualsimultaneously operable pivotally mounted spring retained cam elementsprojecting into said clamp in a manner to permit successive manipulationof empty and full bottles.

2. In a milk bottle holder of the class described, a cabinet, a clamp insaid cabinet comprising a hollow casing-like structure,

composed of a pair of pivotally connected half sections, said halfsections being provided with vertically spaced bottle clampingshoulders, and individual simultaneously operable pivotally mountedspring retained cam elements projecting into said clamp in a manner topermit successive manipulation of empty and full bottles, together witha partition disk in said casing between said shoulders and including anupstanding guide stem for cooperation with the empty bottles.

3. In a milk bottle holder of the class described, a cabinet, and bottleclamping means mounted in said cabinet having entrance openings, and ahollow clamp casing open at its opposite ends and in alinement with saidopenings, said clamping means being composed of hingedly connected halfsections having centralized vertically spaced shouldersfor cooperationwith the respective beads on the empty and full bottles, a pair ofpivotally mounted cam elements mounted between the adjacent free edgesof said half sections, and projecting into the interior of the clamp andalso cooperable with said shoulders, spring means surrounding the clampand cooperable with the adjacent ends of said cam elements to maintainthe elements normally in clamping relation, and permitting expansion ofsaid elements, as well as expansion of said half sections to facilitateplacement and removal of the bottles.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FORREST B. WILLIAMS. JOHN FARRIS LEDFORD. LAVSON H. LEDFOBD.

